May 3rd 2012 started like any other day. I got up and did my usual routine and then my husband was just settling down for his afternoon nap which he does almost every day, he tires very easily these days between medications and the disease itself, when I heard the familiar sound of an e-mail. I checked to see if it was maybe a response to one of the many I have sent out regarding clinical trials or from a fellow cancer survivor from one of the message boards I am a member of. It was neither of these things, but an e-mail from GoFundMe informing me of a donation. A donation from a very dear friend. A woman that I have known since 2009 and who is a fellow seller on a site called Etsy. We had got to chatting on their forum and found Trudy to be a warm, kind, funny lady. She had told us about losing her sister and it touched all of our hearts. I wanted to do something for her and sunflowers have a special meaning. Now Trudy is an artist and she had a painting of a sunflower in her shop on Etsy. So I "stole" the picture and I put it into a necklace and used turquoise and carnelian gemstone clusters for the chain. I sent it to her as a gift and to this day she still talks about and wears the necklace.
I have not been active in my online shop or the forum for the past year but Trudy had gone to visit it and saw this link which was hidden away in my profile.
Being the wonderful, sweet, generous soul that she is, sent a very generous donation. I had to thank her, not just privately, but publicly on Etsy where everyone who knows her or comes in contact with her, falls in love with her.
Of course at the mention of Trudy in the title, fellow Etsians flocked to the thread and the Trudy "fan" club was born.
But Trudy, again, being the person she is couldn't or wouldn't hog the limelight and immediately turned the spotlight on me.
What happened next had and still has me so overwhelmed, I doubt I can express what I feel, in words. The outpouring of thoughts, prayers and generosity of fellow Etsians was more than I could bear. I spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening in tears.
For people, some I know and some I don't know, to give of themselves in such a way, for someone they have never met is really beyond my comprehension. Especially in this economy when everyone is struggling. These are stay at home moms and dads, trying to pay their own bills using their hands to create their own little masterpieces. They are not big corporations, but small shops and the people behind them are individuals going through their own struggles. Yes, there are times when we complain or protest some of the changes in policies we don't agree with but at the end of the day it's a community. A family of people who come together to support another member in any way they know how. Whether it be with kind thoughts or words, prayers for strength and healing, or giving of their hard earned money to ease the burden.
There are no words and I don't think there ever will be, to describe the selfless actions of these wonderful "family" members. Because that's what we are. It has been proven on many occasions, that when there is someone in need, they will rise to the occasion.
My thoughts, prayers and undying gratitude goes out to every single one of them. They have changed my life, in a way that it will never be the same. Thank you will never, ever seem enough, but here I will try. To let them know that their generosity means more to me than they will ever know. The past year has been a struggle and I have done what I could to make life as comfortable and stress free for my husband. I have been able to accomplish more than most and I am more fortunate than most. Now with the friends at Etsy and their donations, I will be able to accomplish even more. They have lifted me to a new height and removed some of the weight from my shoulders. I have a one day at a time motto for the situation that my husband and I are in, but today, this day, was like no other.
Thank you my wonderful Etsy friends. I love all of you.
I have not been active in my online shop or the forum for the past year but Trudy had gone to visit it and saw this link which was hidden away in my profile.
Being the wonderful, sweet, generous soul that she is, sent a very generous donation. I had to thank her, not just privately, but publicly on Etsy where everyone who knows her or comes in contact with her, falls in love with her.
Of course at the mention of Trudy in the title, fellow Etsians flocked to the thread and the Trudy "fan" club was born.
But Trudy, again, being the person she is couldn't or wouldn't hog the limelight and immediately turned the spotlight on me.
What happened next had and still has me so overwhelmed, I doubt I can express what I feel, in words. The outpouring of thoughts, prayers and generosity of fellow Etsians was more than I could bear. I spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening in tears.
For people, some I know and some I don't know, to give of themselves in such a way, for someone they have never met is really beyond my comprehension. Especially in this economy when everyone is struggling. These are stay at home moms and dads, trying to pay their own bills using their hands to create their own little masterpieces. They are not big corporations, but small shops and the people behind them are individuals going through their own struggles. Yes, there are times when we complain or protest some of the changes in policies we don't agree with but at the end of the day it's a community. A family of people who come together to support another member in any way they know how. Whether it be with kind thoughts or words, prayers for strength and healing, or giving of their hard earned money to ease the burden.
There are no words and I don't think there ever will be, to describe the selfless actions of these wonderful "family" members. Because that's what we are. It has been proven on many occasions, that when there is someone in need, they will rise to the occasion.
My thoughts, prayers and undying gratitude goes out to every single one of them. They have changed my life, in a way that it will never be the same. Thank you will never, ever seem enough, but here I will try. To let them know that their generosity means more to me than they will ever know. The past year has been a struggle and I have done what I could to make life as comfortable and stress free for my husband. I have been able to accomplish more than most and I am more fortunate than most. Now with the friends at Etsy and their donations, I will be able to accomplish even more. They have lifted me to a new height and removed some of the weight from my shoulders. I have a one day at a time motto for the situation that my husband and I are in, but today, this day, was like no other.
Thank you my wonderful Etsy friends. I love all of you.
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